Man acquitted of charges of kidnap and rape of minor

A Delhi court has acquitted a man of charges of kidnapping and raping a 17-year-old girl after she turned hostile, saying she had lodged the complaint due to misunderstanding and under pressure from her parents.

Additional Sessions Judge Gulshan Kumar absolved the man of the offences under sections 363 (kidnap) and 376 (rape) of the IPC and under the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

“Prosecutrix is the star witness and she has not supported the case,” the judge said while noting that the girl had deposed that she had filed the complaint due to some mis- understanding and has no grudge against the accused.

“I am of the view that prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. Accordingly, accused is acquitted of the offences,” the judge said.

According to the prosecution, a complaint was lodged against the man for allegedly kidnapping and raping the girl on February 11, 2014 near a school in east Delhi.

However, she deposed in court that she was engaged with the accused and there was some dispute regarding expenses of marriage between their family members.

She also admitted having filed the complaint under pressure from her parents and police officials.

During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty and claimed he was falsely implicated.